JDRF-funded researchers have found therapeutic potential of MANF protein to reduce beta cell stress in Type 1 diabetes. In the healthy pancreas of someone without Type 1 diabetes, the hormone insulin (essential for turning food into energy) is produced, stored, and released in a normal ‘factory-like’ process within pancreatic beta cells in response to glucose in the diet. Early in the development of T1D excessive or pathologic stress in beta cells compromises their ability to properly secrete insulin. This triggers a cascade of events ultimately contributing to the beta cell death.
Over the past several years, JDRF-funded researchers have found evidence that beta cell stress may play a role in the onset of T1D and are exploring ways to prevent this occurring. This could protect beta cell health and maintain normal beta cell function.
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